10 Remarks Women Wish Men Would Stop Saying

Every woman has heard these comments before—and probably wishes she hadn’t. Some remarks just don’t hit the right note, no matter the intent. Here are 10 things women wish men would stop saying and how dropping these phrases can make conversations a lot more pleasant.

“You’re too pretty to be single”

Ah, the classic “compliment” that’s more cringe than charming. Newsflash: being single isn’t a tragedy, and it definitely doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with the lady. Maybe she’s single because she chooses to be, or perhaps she’s just not willing to settle. Let’s retire this one.

“Calm down; it’s just a joke”

Nothing like a good ol’ “calm down” to make a woman feel more… well, the opposite. If you have to tell someone to calm down after your joke, chances are it wasn’t that funny to begin with. Humor is subjective, but the quickest way to kill the vibe is by doubling down on a bad joke. How about we agree to read the room better?

“Are you on your period or something?”

This one is the gold standard of condescending remarks. It’s dismissive, it’s rude, and it suggests that a woman’s feelings or reactions are only valid if she’s got a hormonal excuse. Spoiler alert: women have emotions that aren’t tied to their menstrual cycle. Maybe she’s upset because of something you actually said.

“You’re not like other girls”

While this might sound like a compliment, it’s actually a backhanded one. Other girls are awesome, too! There’s no need to put women in a box to make them feel special. The whole “cool girl” trope is tired, so let’s leave this one in the past where it belongs.

 “I prefer women who don’t wear makeup”

Makeup is often a form of self-expression, creativity, and self-care for many women. It’s not just about enhancing looks; it’s about how they feel when they wear it. When men say they prefer women without makeup, it can feel like they’re reducing a woman’s worth to her natural state, ignoring the fact that makeup is a personal choice.

“You’re so much prettier when you smile”

Translation: “I don’t care about how you’re feeling—just look happy for me.” This remark is a quick way to make a woman feel like her emotions are inconvenient. Smiling isn’t a requirement for existing in the world, and sometimes, ladies just don’t feel like it.

 “You’re overreacting”

Telling someone they’re overreacting doesn’t magically make their feelings disappear—it just invalidates them. Everyone’s entitled to their emotions, and downplaying them is a surefire way to come off as dismissive. Instead of telling women they’re overreacting, maybe try listening and understanding why they feel the way they do.

“You’re so independent—it’s intimidating”

It is supposed to be a compliment, right? Wrong. Saying that a woman’s independence is intimidating is like saying, “I’m not sure I can handle a woman who knows what she wants.” Being self-sufficient isn’t a flaw, and it’s certainly not something that should scare you off. If it does, well, that’s more of a you problem.

“You’d be so much more attractive if you lost a few pounds”

There’s really no polite way to respond to this one because it’s just plain rude. When you comment on someone’s weight, especially in this way, it is a major faux pas. Women don’t exist to meet arbitrary beauty standards, and remarks like this are hurtful, unnecessary, and incredibly outdated. 

“You’re too emotional”

And here we have the grand finale—the cherry on top of the condescension cake. Labeling ladies as “too emotional” is a quick way to shut down any meaningful conversation. Emotions aren’t a weakness, and expressing them doesn’t make women irrational. In fact, it makes them human. So, let’s embrace the feelings and stop acting like having them is a bad thing.